On April 15 at Otay Ranch High School, more than 100 seniors attended the first annual Otay Experience Forum, Breaking Barriers and Changing Perceptions: Finding the Hero Within event. Some of San Diego’s top female executives and business leaders, including Sweetwater District’s very own Superintendent Dr. Karen Janney and other women from various industries came together for a panel discussion to support some of Otay Ranch High’s most promising seniors.
Otay Ranch High senior English teachers Dan Kray and Karen Saiki piloted the Otay Experience project, which brought seniors together to focus on a contemporary and culturally relevant issue. Each senior read Luis Alberto Urrea’s critically acclaimed novel Into the Beautiful North (2010). The novel is part of the National Endowment of the Art’s Big Read Program and was a 2012 selection for One Book, One San Diego. The novel follows the coming of age of Nayeli, a teenage girl on a journey to find heroes to save her community, only to discover she is actually the hero she has been in search for.
In addition to reading the novel, students were required to attend the forum as a final project. According to Kray and Saiki, the Breaking Barriers and Changing Perceptions: Finding the Hero Within forum featured local women “SHEroes” as they shared their own journeys and experiences through life that helped shape them into the women they are today.
The forum kicked off with welcome remarks by Kray, Saiki and Principal Jose Brosz. Then, panel discussions were led by moderator and KGTV Channel 10 Investigative Reporter Melissa Mecija. The panel of leaders included Sweetwater District Superintendent Dr. Karen Janney, California State Assembly, 80th District Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, Superior Court Judge Ana Espana, United States Navy Aircrew Survival Equipmentman Pran Bartolome, San Diego State Assistant Dean of College Education Dr. Tanis King Starck and KUSI Sports Reporter Allie Wagner.
The esteemed panel shared their personal stories through an exciting and informative question and answer session that included sharing their top teachable and most courageous professional moments in their lives. The discussions were also around a variety of topics relevant to the seniors around the importance of an education, building their network and the value of owning their personal economic success as it relates to their future.
Sweetwater District Superintendent Dr. Janney shared it was her mother who inspired her to pursue her dreams. “My mother is who inspires me daily,” said Dr. Janney. “She took a brave step to travel to the U.S. from Guam with an 8th grade education. She raised my siblings and I to value education and each day she demonstrated persistence and courage. She paved the way in order for us to be successful. She is my SHEroe.”
